The story of Oshadhi and why I decided to ignore everyone's advice

You've
probably noticed this yourself, but as you start to develop a higher
profile on the internet and more attention comes your way, all manner of
people seem to want to offer you advice.

I was approached the other day by someone who wanted to tell me how to
communicate with customers. One of the golden rules, I was told, is
'Don't talk about yourself. Instead talk about them and their needs.'

Now I genuinely get the point. Totally. But today I'm going to
completely ignore that advice and tell you about Oshadhi. Here's why...

When you start to use an essential oil it often seems as if it has a
personality. Some people even feel as if they are inviting something
living into their home or practice. Does that sound too fanciful? Maybe
for some, but I think there's the seed of an idea there that will find
echoes in the hearts of many.

Now if you decided to share your home with, say, a new dog, you'd want
to find out as much as you could about it before you commit... It's
personality, background and history, how it has been treated, etc.

Am I going a bit far here? Maybe, but the point I am making is that
essential oils are much more than 'pleasant aromas', and offering them
to the wider community somehow seems to be much more than shifting a box
of widgets. Essential oils have their own insistent energy; they have
vitality and a personality which is determined by many factors in the
way that they are produced. Therefore I think you will want to know more
about how the oils that you use are sourced.

So today I am — unashamedly — going to tell you about the philosophy
which informs the sourcing of these oils, and a little about the
personality behind the Oshadhi brand.

I hope I am right in thinking that you'll want to know about this...

What does 'Oshadhi' mean?
Oshadhi is the Sanskrit name for 'medicinal plant'. In Sanskrit, the
language of the ancient Vedic civilization, all words have a meaning
which is derived directly from their roots, and the roots, in turn, are
said to have a direct correspondence between sound and meaning.Oshadhi literally means 'burning transformation'; or we could
say 'bearer of sunlight'. In Vedic civilization medicinal plants were
seen as the 'transformers of sunlight' into a form that could be used by
mankind.

The Story of OshadhiThe Oshadhi brand of essential oils is the creation of Dr Malte Hozzel.
Malte started to use essential oils in the 1970s and developed a strong
interest in their practical application. Over the last 35 years he has
travelled the world in a quest to find the best and purest oils,
sourcing them direct from the growers. The oils are now sold in over 20
countries around the world. Below he explains more...

Sharing a light moment That's the two of us sharing a joke at the Gorges du Tarn on an
excursion during an aromatherapy seminar in Provence. Malte is on the
right. I seem to remember we were arguing about which of us was more
like a Viking. We've been friends for over 30 years and Malte has been a
constant source of knowledge and inspiration to me. It is a daily
privilege to be involved with Oshadhi oils.

Malte writes:
Our Goal: Our goal has always been simple: to create and
distribute a collection of essential oils which stand out through their
uncompromising purity. The magic of Oshadhi essential oils - their
outstanding therapeutic efficiency and depth of fragrance - stems of
course from the plants themselves. What we have added (and this is our
great strength) is our understanding. We do our best to ensure that each
product contains the intelligence and healing power of the plant in its
purest form. It is wonderful that this healing power can be available
in a little cobalt blue bottle: so simple, neat, and beautiful.

Our Quest: Our 'treasure hunt' for the best essential
oils goes on and on, never ending, always more surprising, always more
demanding. This is a challenge we relish. During our quest, we have
established strong ties with over 100 farmers of medicinal plants
throughout the world.

Working with Farmers: These farmers are committed to
the wise and prudent treatment of the soil and have demonstrated a deep
respect for nature. Many do the same work as their father and
grandfather did, often using traditional stainless steel or copper
stills which provide the optimum conditions for the full aroma of the
essential oils and maintenance of the active ingredients.

Responsible Ecological Farming: During our search we
have witnessed ever-increasing degradation of the soil due to the misuse
of natural resources. This is specifically due to the clear-cutting of
plants, over-harvesting, the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides,
herbicides, and fungicides, and mono-cultural farming. Unfortunately few
farmers are aware of the dramatic consequences of these widespread
practices. Our commitment is therefore to promote organic farming and to
work with producers who know how to handle nature in a loving and
caring way. Whenever we make contact with new farmers we immediately
draw their attention to the far-reaching positive consequences of
responsible ecological farming.

Cooperation and Mutual Respect: We are convinced that
cooperation, exchange of knowledge and mutual respect are the best means
to echo back the message of nature reflected in the wonderful gift of
these plants. We enjoy being able to be a piece in this puzzle of
awakening to new values of life, of beauty, of wisdom and of health -
and we thank everybody who participates in this goal.

- Dr Malte Hozzel, Founder Oshadhi Essential Oils

In keeping with our tradition of providing profiles of essential oils, here's a profile of Malte...

Origin: German but with some Danish ancestry

Habitat: Travels a lot with his wife Fabienne, and can
be very elusive. Divides his time between the Oshadhi distribution
facility in Germany, and Provence, where he can frequently be found
running courses and seminars. A strong affinity with India where he
flourishes, and can also occasionally be located in South America where
he is a major sponsor of projects for homeless children in Colombia.

Chemical profile: An interesting blend of the spiritual
and practical, with a light touch and a degree of sensitivity
punctuated by frequent bursts of humour. Can be confusing when to take
seriously.

Cautions: Slight tendency to oxidise when blended with a
high concentration of French cyclists, but a generally sweet dryout.
Can produce unpredictable results during excursions.

Uses: An invaluable source of knowledge. Powerful in
large doses, but generally considered safe. Suitable for use with young
children and especially the elderly. Not known to cause sensitization
(so far).

I also have the transcript of an interview with Malte which I'll share with you soon. But there is one bit of advice that I am going to take note of, which is not to make my communications too long.